Project Life, My Way - Week 1

I have finally begun working on scrapbooking 2013 Project Life-style.

As I sat down to begin (5 months into 2013 and already feeling super far behind), I realized I was going to be a wee bit challenged. In order to scrapbook this way I was going to have to scrap in chronological order. Yes, the dreaded method that requires organization up front. (Which, coincidentally, is not one of my strong suits when it comes to photos and memorabelia.)

So today, we're going to talk about that dreaded word: O-R-G-A-N-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N.

Instead of diving into my collection of goodies, I found myself sitting down to organize photos. One of my biggest barriers to getting my scrapbooking done, is the prep work. I often get photos from my mom, and my sister, and my brother that go along with the photos from my camera, my cell phone camera, and my husband's cell phone. And of course, we all have Nikon cameras and Samsung cell phones which means that all of our collective photos are using the same file naming structure. And that's a problem, because IMG_001 from my camera is not the same as IMG_001 from my mom's camera, and I if I don't give the files unique names, and I'm not super duper careful, I could end up writing over a precious photo. No pressure, right?

So here's my workflow:

First, I collect photos from all sources. Then I put them in their own folder named after the image owner.

Next, I go through those photo files, and rename them to add a 3 character extension to the file name that indicates who the original the image owner is. (For example, if the photo owner is Jane A. Smith, then the photo would be renamed as IMG_001_JAS.)

 

Finally, once all of the photos are renamed, I put a copy of them into an annual file folder where I compile all of the photos for the year. Then I sort them into file folders by date. Here's what it looks like:

...and from there I am ready to start scrapbooking. Well, I am assuming that I know where I put the memorabelia.

 

Several hours later, I finally had the first month's worth of photos gathered, renamed, and all in the same folder where I could then sort by date order to start working with them. Whew. Glad that's over!

 

Finally. Time to start scrapbooking!

 

Week 1 - Left side

Week 1 - Right Side

 

We don't have children and live fairly mundane lives, so I don't have a lot of very interesting activities to scrapbook on a daily, or even weekly, basis. Taking that into consideration, I've decided that in addition to photos, I will include things like what I was thinking or feeling on a particular day, maybe a quote that resonated with me that day, or my Facebook status update. Fortunately I have a handy little iPad app called Momento that collects information from my Facebook, Instagram, and FourSquare feeds onto a calendar. This way, I can just grab my iPad to help jog my memory and provide content for my album.

 

I've added a photo gallery over on my Facebook page with close-ups of some of the page elements. Head on over there to see more images for these two pages. 

 

Want your own personal shopper to help you re-create these pages for yourself? I've collected the materials I used all in one place for you. Buy them here.

 

Other supplies used that are not available through Amazon:

• Freckled Fawn Washi Tape
• October Afternoon Midway Chip Shapes
• Me and My Big Ideas Icons (Dollar Sign)
• Martha Stewart Anywhere Punch (Doily)
• Basic Grey Mono Stickers (Black)

Happy Scrapping!

Project Life, My Way

So... I've decided to jump on the Project Life bandwagon, but not in the way that it was originally intended. There will be no "picture a day + journaling card" approach. I may or may not follow the weekly organzational method. What I will do, is capture memories in a more timely fashion (lofty goal #1). You know, before you forget what was so funny at the time, or why you took the photo in the first place (lofty goal #2).

I've thought long and hard about making this switch. Going from a 12x12 full page canvas to the seemingly simple 6"x4" and 3"x4" little cards. Could I do it? Could I scrap more simply and still love the creative process? Could I create little vignettes instead of full page layouts? Could I scrapbook in *gasp* chronological order???

I didn't know.

I wouldn't know.

Until I tried.

I did some research. Browsing through pages of Pinterest Pins, Google Images, and Blogs. What design styles was I drawn too? Which ones might I like to emulate? What did I dislike and why? What should I avoid when I started out on my own journey into Project Life?

So coupon in hand, I headed to Hobby Lobby. Settled on a Midnight Edition. Why? Because being primarily black and white, it seemed to be most versatile, most flexible to allow me to get creative with it, to add artsy additions and any colors I wished to.

And so it begins. My journey. Project Life-syle.

Inside Front Cover

So far the cards inserted for placement only. Debating whether to add tidbits now along with some journaling about my hopes for the year, or to wait and complete it at the end of the year. I think I am leaning toward adding my hopes to the inside front cover, and then writing a "year in review" recap for the inside back cover.

I invite you to come along. Join me on my journey through a new style of scrapbooking. Post your comments, share your thoughts...your tips, your ideas in the comment section.